Thread-changing mechanism for circular-knitting machines.



No. 794,407. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

' I E. A. HIRNER.

THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-EHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

E. A. HIRNER. THREAD OHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

PATENT-ED JULY 11, 1905.

- B. A. HIRNER. THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

!NVENTOR:

WITNESSES: ym fix 52 K 1Z0 PATENTBD JULY 11, 1905.

E. A. HIRNER. THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING- MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOH:

\DyTN ESSES/ 1 ,lm gpl/wzw/jzb PATENTBD JULY ,11, 1905.

E. A. HIRNER. v THREAD CHANGING MEGHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION I'ILHI) DBO. 20, 1900.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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No. 794,407. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905" E. A. HIRNER.

THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLIOA'IIOH Hum 1120.20.1000.

' sums-sum e.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: v

I I in. W I v fifl1a a? 110794.401 V PATENTBD JULY 11, 1905.

0. A. 1111mm.

,THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

' v APBLIOATIOH FILED 1120.20.10.00.

1a sums-0mm '1.

, 45 Ill/(11 5' WITNESSES:

Mm? W? 0517 ZAAVINVENTOR:

PATBNTED JULY 11, 1905.

E. A. HIRNBR. THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

.APPLIUATIOH FILED DBO. 20. 1900.

13 SHEETS-SHEET B.

ll anlw WITNESSES:

Km mm PATENTED JULY 11, 1905 I ILA. HIRNER. THREAD CHANGING MEGHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 20, 1900.

1,5 13 sums-sum: 9.

.h" f J Ham h? 1' 7L3 Jig i i C? WITNESSES: INVENTOR: zjwm 'glz/ No. 794.407. I PATEN'IBD JULY 11, I905.

1:. A. 1111mm. THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 10- No. 794,407. v PATBNTED JULY 11, 1905.

B. A. HIRNER. THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-SHEET ll.

I \v 111, i 7

WITNESSE S: ICIIIVEN'IOR: 722:? f WM No. 794.407. PATENTED JULY 11., 1905. E. A. HIRNER. THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

I m a. W L Le; mm,

W, v rmf No. 794.407. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. E. A. HIRNER.

THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED 1020.20, 1900.

13 SHEETS-BEEET 13.

FIG 34.

WITNESSES: lNVENTOR:

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NITED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL A. HIRNER, OF ALLENTOVVN,PENNSYLVANIA.

S?ECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794.,407, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed December 20,1900. Serial No. 40,483.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL A. HIRNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread -Ohanging Mechanism for Circular-Knitting Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

- My invention has reference to automatic mechanism applicable to knitting-machines, whereby at predetermined intervals the knitting-thread may be changed-that is to say, at certain points in the knitting operation the thread with which the knitting has proceeded is withdrawn from the needles and another thread inserted with which the knitting proceeds until a further change. Such mechanism is useful either where it is desired to knit with threads of different colors, so that the colors may be successively changed to produce knitting with colored stripes-as. for instance, in the manufacture of striped hosiery or where it is desired to knit threads differing in weight or materialas, for instance, where the heel and toe pockets of a stocking are to be knit with a cotton thread and the rest of the stocking with'a woolen thread.

My invention comprises not only the immediate mechanism for effecting the change of thread, but also the related mechanism whereby the intervals of change and selection of threads may be varied according to any predetermined pattern.

It also includes mechanism whereby as the threads are changed the loose ends, both of the old and new threads, are severed from the knitting and the ends of the threads which are out of use held under tension ready for use.

It further comprises devices whereby the pattern mechanism for regulating the change of thread is operatively connected with the automatic mechanism of a stocking-knitter, whereby the thread-changing mechanism is made to correspond to or control the changes in the operation of the knitting parts which produce the heel and toe pockets.

1 have shown in the drawings and will prothe line 7 7, Fig. 1.

ceed to describe an embodiment of my inven tion in which it is applied to a circular stocking-knitter of standard construction for the purpose of knitting multicolored striped hose; but it must be understood that my invention is not thus limited in application, but may be applied to the changing of threads in any sort of a knitting-machine. Four separate threadchanging devices are shown and means for automatically throwing them successively into and out of action according to a predetermined pattern in order to produce a striped stocking. This number might be increased. I have chosen this exemplification of my invention because it more fully illustrates all the details of my improvements; but it is to be understood that the number of thread-feeds may be decreased with a resulting simplification of the mechanism. Likewise, where the change of thread is to occur only at the knitting of the heel and toe pockets instead of in accordance with the pattern of a striped stocking there will be further simplification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a knitting-machine embodying my improvements, the left-hand end of the figure constituting the front of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine seen from the right with the bobbin-carrier'removed. Fig. 3 is a similar elevation seen from the left. Fig. 4 is an irregular sectional plan view taken on the line 4: 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, slightly enlarged. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section along the line 6 6, Fig. 1, similarly enlarged. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view along Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the swinging table, which overlies the knitting-machine, with the bobbincarrier removed. Figs.9 and 10 are vertical longitudinal sections of Fig. 8 along the line 9 9 1O 10, looking in Fig. 9 from the left of the machine and in Fig. 10 from the right. In Fig. 9 the bobbin-carrier is in place; in Fig. 10 it is removed. Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section of Fig. 8 along the line 11 11 and looking from the rear, corresponding thus to Fig. 6, but looking in the opposite direction. The remaining figures are detailed ICO - in elevation of the relation between cam-plate E and cam-block P Figs. 16 and 17 are enlarged views of thread-changer i in upper and lower positions, respectively. Fig. 18 is an enlarged perspective View of rock-shaft P and its connections with hammer 0*. Fig. 19 shows the shape of the diiferent varieties of pattern-jacks for pattern-wheel Q. Fig. 20 is a view of the rear side of hand-lever X.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary elevation showing in detail the pawling mechanism for the pattern-chain e. Fig. 22 is a cross-section along the main shaft A showing its pulleys and clutch mechanism. Figs. 23 and 24 are sections along the line 23 23 24 24, Fig. 22, looking, respectively, from the right and from the left.

In order that the drawings may be more easily understood, it will be convenient to first'enumerate and refer to the fixed parts by which the mechanism proper is supported, although these parts are not essential to my invention, as the moving mechanism may be supported in any way which is found convenient. I will therefore first specify these parts.

. T he m02mtings.-A (see Fig. 6) is the bedplate, which carries the knitting-cylinders. It is of circular outline, with a left-hand Wingplate A, a right-hand wing-plate A and the rearwardly-projecting ledge A The bed-plate and its wing-platesare integral and are cast with a depending marginal flange. They have screwed or otherwise made fast to them the following fixed supporting parts: to the right of plate A a dependent plate A*, in front of and below plate A a journal-plate A, (secured only to the preceding member,) to the left of plate A a depending guardplate. A, below plate A and between A and A (nearer to the latter) a journal-block A to the right of plate A and screwed to it an irregular journal-casting A behind plate A and screwed to it an irregular cap-piece A, in front of plate A and screwed to it a guard-' plate A and on top of wing-plate A an upright standard A. The left-hand wing-plate A carries centrally a large sleeve A", which passes through it, projecting both above and below it.

All of the foregoing parts find their support in an octagonal table B, which is supported by wide side standards B B. Its top is cast with two intermediate longitudinal ribs B between which the top is projected forward'in the form of a shelf B to which is screwed the rearwardly-projecting ledge A ofthe bed-plate A, which, with all its parts,

. is thus supported by table B. Additional support is given the front of shelf B? by means of the bifurcated central standard B, Figs. 3, 5, and 7. The ledge B is cast with heavy depending journal-flanges B one on either side.

The comprehension of the mechanism of my invention as I have illustrated it will be facilitated by dividing its decription into groups, as follows:

I. The parts which relate to the knitting mechanism proper.

plate.

III. The immediate thread-changing mechanism mounted on the rotating plate, comprising: a, multiple bobbin-carrier; 7;, multiple thread-changers; e, thread-locks and take-ups; ct, levers which control the thread-changers.

IV. The thread-end guide-plate and threadcutting mechanism.

V. The cam-plate which actuates the levers and its reciprocating mechanism.

VI. Thepattern-wheel and its pawling mechanism.

VII. The mechanism for changing rotation to oscillation, and vice versa, comprising: a, oscillating mechanism; 6, automatic clutch and clutch-lever; e, pattern-chain and its pawling mechanism; (Z, belt-shifting lever.

VIII. Connections whereby pattern-wheel determines change from rotation to oscillation.

IX. Connections whereby motion of pattern-wheel ceases during oscillation.

I. T he Parts which Relate to the Knitting illechcmism Proper.

The main shaft C of the machine runs transversely beneath wing-plate A (See Figs. 4, 6, and 22.) It is' journaled toward its left end in journal-block A and toward its right end in journal-casting A The right-hand projecting extremity of this shaft has detachably keyed to it a hand-lever C, by which the shaft may be turned by hand and with reference to a fixed position of which (as indicated in the drawings, Fig. 2) it is convenient to adjust the initial position of the machine. The left-hand extremity of this shaft carries the' vertical beveled gear-wheel G which meshes with a corresponding horizontal circular rack formed on the lower edge of an annular flange G which is mounted upon and rotates centrally within bed-plate A. Flange has formed upon it the rotating cam-cylinder C. The corresponding needle-cylinder C is sustained fixedly within the cam-cylinder.

ShaftGcarries twin fast and loose belt-pulleys c and o. Pulley cis fast to the shaft and is the ordinary driving-pulley of the machine. Pulley o runs freely upon a projecting sleeve of pulley 0, being maintained in place by collar G, set on the shaft, (see Fig. 22,) and is ordinarily an idle pulley for supporting the belt While the machine is at rest, although. through the gearing and clutch mechanism,

II. The swinging table and its rotating which will hereinafter be described, pulley o is further utilized to effect oscillation of the machine when this motion is needed.

0, Figs. 9 and 10, are the needles, working vertically in needle-grooves around the periphery of the needle-cylinder under the influence of the cams of the cam-cylinder. The knitting-cams and other connecting parts are not shown, as they may be of any wellknown construction. It will be understood that the cam-cylinder is furnished, in addition to the ordinary knitting-cams. with needle shifters or picks and with mechanism for throwing them into and out of action at the proper time, by means of which a continuous tube is formed by the continuous rotation of the cam-cylinder around the needle-cylinder, while at proper intervals the machine is caused to oscillate and pockets are formed in the tube by throwing a number of the needles to the idle level and widening and narrowing the fashioning set by the action of the picks, all of which mechanism is well known in the art of knitting. The cam-cylinderalso carries a series of sinkers, which are omitted from most of the drawings; but the general contour of the ring formed by the series is indicated at 0 Fig. 2. These sinkers are actuated by sinker-cams carried by a dial-plate G which revolves with the cam -cylinder. By the operation of these parts the rotation of the main shaft by the belt-pulley 0 continuously rotates the cam-cylinder and produces continuous knitting. When the belt is shifted to o and certain connections made, the main shaft is given a motion of oscillation instead of rotation, with corresponding oscillation of the cam-cylinder, whereby the formation of the heel and toe pockets is accomplished. The connections whereby rotation of pulley 0; causes oscillation of the main shaft are described at V11 (4.

II. -T/w Swing ing Table wit/t its Rotating Plate.

Within sleeve A mounted on win late A, plays a rotating and sliding rod D, having a screw-thread formed upon its lower portion, which, however, operates not as a screw, but as a rack. The upper portion of this sleeve is split, so that it may be adjusted to fit accurately around rod D by screw 6?, Fig. 3. A second sleeve D surrounds sleeve A near its lower end and carries within it a vertical pinion D, (see Fig. 4,) which reaches through a vertical slot in the side of the sleeve A and engages the threaded portion of the rod D as a rack. It is rotated by its shaft (Z when turned by the hand-lever (Z and by its rotation moves the rod D up and down, the screwthread allowing a coincident rotary movement. The upper end of rod D, which projects above the sleeve A i, is expanded into an irregular horizontal head D D is avertical guide-rod set at its lower end in the side of sleeve A [The head D contains a circular aperture d, corresponding to and fitting around the guidc-rod D, which thereby maintains head D and rod D from rotation within the sleeve A until the head has been raised far enough to clear. the upper end of the guide-rod; but when so raised it is free to swing in either direction upon the rod D as a pivot.

The annular swinging table E is made fast at one side to head D by the screws 6, two of which are situated near the extreme ends of the wing-shaped extensions of the head. (Indicated by thedottedlinesin Fig. 8.) The table E at the side directly opposite the head D has a projection E with a radial lockingslot 6. The upper end of standard A, which is mounted on plate A contains the vertical locking-key F, on the upper end of which is formed a lug f, which accurately fits the slot 0 of the swinging table when the latter is swung into its operative position concentric with the axis of the knitting-cylinders. The keyFis held with its upright lugf radial to the axis of the knitting-cylinders, ready to engage the radial slot (1, by the set-screwf, the end of the screw opposing a flattened side of the key, as indicated.

The lower end of the key F is beveled at f at which point it is engaged, and may be vertically adjusted by a horizontal set-screw f This adjustment regulates the height of the shoulder at the base of lug f, on which the swinging table rests when in place. A corresponding adjustment of the other support of the table may be effected by the setscrew d, which pierces the head D and abuts at its lower end against the top of the sleeve A fixing the depth to which the slide-rod D can fall within the sleeve.

By rotating lever (Z the parts described enable the operator to raise the swinging table until the aperture d leaves the guide-rod D in which position, the slot 6 being clear of the lugf, the whole table is free to be swung to one side or the other, giving the operator access to the needle-cylinder and cam-cylinder and other portions of the knitting-machine proper, which are beneath the table when it is in its central or operative position.

The annular swinging table E carries concentrically the annular rotating plate G, upon which is mounted the multiple-thread-feeding mechanism. This rotating plate has a depending external peripheral flange g", which fits into a corresponding annular groove 6 of the swinging table. A short distance within the groove the entire table is cut away, terminating in the depending flange 0 forming a large central circular aperture. It will be observed that this annular plate is wholly external to the cylindrical plane formed by the indefinite prolongation of the needles, which relation is shortly described in some of the claims by the statement that this annular plate 'tion of the machine.

is external to the cylindrical surface defined by the needles. The plate G is held to its place in the table E by the overlapping heads of the pins a, protected by washers a, each of them having its height adjustable by setscrew 6 On one side of the cam-cylinder C is fastened a plate (J with brackets, which carry between their outer extremities a block C, in which a vertical sleeve (1 is held adjustably by set-screw 0 Within the sleeve C is a vertical pin 0 with a rounded upper end. A spiral spring 0 surrounding the pin within the sleeve and abutting against a shoulder of this pin, tends to thrust it as far up as theexpanded head at its lower end will permit. When thus thrust up, the upper end of this pin engages a circular aperture of the rotating plate G. Through the engagement of Gr is effected, corresponding to that of the cam-cylinder C If the swinging table has been swung aside, as soon as it returns to its central position in the course of the first rotation of the cam-cylinder this pin will find and engage the aperture g and thereafter constantly rotate the plate. Until the aperture is found the pin yields to depression within its sleeve, thus offering when properly adjusted by set-screw no obstacle to the return of the swinging table to its place.

The rotating plate G has a central circular aperture g, slightly larger than the needlecylinder, with the internal depending flange g. It also contains a second smaller aperture to one side of the central aperture 9, (indicated by g, Figs. 1 and 8.) The flange g depends far enough for its lower edge to surround the heads of the needles in the needlecylinder. Where the central aperture g and the aperture g are contiguous, they open into each other, and the flange g is cut away at this point to form a deep V-shaped threadgroove reaching almost but not quite to the bottom of the flange. The bottom or point of this groove, which is slightly enlarged, forms the thread-carrier g of the knitting-machine. (See Fig. 9.) The relation of the position of this thread-carrier to the needles should be carefully not-ed. As shown in the drawings, the table has been swung to its central and locked position and the cam-cylinder rotated until the pin 0 engages the aperture g and until the thread-carrier g of the rotating plate is directly to the right of the central aperture g. This is the initial posi- The position of aperture in the rotating plate is such that the plate G when rotating is held in such fixed relation to the cam-cylinder, and therefore to the knitting-cams within it, that the line representing the advancement of the tops of the needles under the influence of these cams is always related to the plate, and therefore to thread-carrier 9 as indicated by the dotted line 0, Fig. 9; The vertical position of the thread-carrier with relation to the needlecylinder must always be such that any thread fed through it will enter and be knit by the hooks of the needles. Its accurate adjust ment is important and is effected by the adjustment of the height of the swinging table E, which has been described as made by the set-screws d f 0 III. Immediate T/LTKXLCZ- O/mmgng JVec/t- All of this mechanism is mounted on rotating plate G. It comprises:

a. llfzrltiple bobbin-ccm'er.Two upright standards H H, Figs. 8 and 9, made fast to plate Gr, sustain two horizontal cross-pieces it 71, Fig. 1, united in the shape of an X. Each of the four extremities of the X (which are bent slightly upward) carries a bobbin-pin h, on which are placed the bobbins 7?. From the intersection of the cross-pieces h it, and

consequently directly over the axis of the machine, rises the single upright standard H. The upper extremity of the standard H is expanded into the thread-guiding disk H through a depending peripheral flange of which are pierced the thread-guiding apertures 72,, one corresponding to each of the bobbins if. H H are smaller thread-guiding collars mounted upon the standard H, with similar thread-guiding apertures 71 Between two arms of the cross-bars extends the guide-wire it, looped to form the threadguiding eyes 71 b. Wlitltz'ple threacl-c/tangers.Over the aperture g are mounted the four pivoted thread-changers 't' 2' "0'. (See Figs. 8, 9, and 11.) These may be seen in enlargement in Figs. 16 and 17. They are of equal length and each consists of a pivoted lever, of which the swinging extremity is turned up and pierced with a thread-eye Their pivoted ends are squared, so as to insure the more accurate parallelism of their motion as they swing vertically upon the pivot 5 which is common to all four of them. This pivot is mounted between two parallel bars 5*, which bridge the aperture g, being secured at their inner ends to the plate G by the screws 7; and at their outer ends to the same plate by the screws 71, with beads beneath the plate. (Showing only in Fig. 6.)

71 i are the set-screws at the end of the bars 6 for the purpose of setting, retaining, and removing the pivot i on which the threadchangers swing. It will be observed that when these parallel thread-changers are in their horizontal position their swinging ends carrying the thread-eyes are over that part of the aperture g which is nearest to the aperture g, and consequently are in close proximity to the top of the V-shaped thread-groove 9 In order to bring their swinging extremities more nearly together, the outermost two of the ward the pivot.

th read -ch angers 71.

thread-changers may be formed with a sho'ul der 7J (Seen end on in Fig. 9.) The bars 2' carry a depending wire yoke i" with its ends adjustably secured in them by the set-screws 6 and having a sufiicient depth for its crosspiece to form a rest which catches the swinging extremities of the thread-changers 71 when they are depressed, (as is the farthest threadchanger seen in Fig. 11.) When thus depressed, the thread-eye of the thread-changer is slightly below thread-carrier g, the exact extent depending upon the adjustment of yoke 2' by set-screws i Consequently when any one of the thread-changers is depressed it lays its thread in the thread-carrier g and when it is raised it removes its thread from this thread-carrier.

The upper side of each thread-changer carries a short upright post 71 set slightly in front of its pivot and with its top beveled to- (See Figs. 16 and 17.) The function of these posts will be explained in connection with the description of the operation of the levers which control the threadchangers. (III d.)

c. Thread-locks and takeups.The bars 2' also carry an upwardly-projecting wire yoke 91, held in place by setscrew 2' and pierced by thread-apertures 2' A secondupwardlyextending yoke bridges the space between the bars 2'" formed by the upright posts i set in each of them by set-screws 2'. Between these posts runs the pivot i, set by the screws i The pivot 71 carries four pivoted levers j, which I call thread-locks, of which the outer ends are weighted, while the inner ends are pierced by the thread-apertures These thread-locks are held in a position nearly horizontal by the stop-wirej which runs between the posts a and is set in them by the setscrews j On the opposite side of the aperture gfrom the parts which have just been described is mounted the base-block K. This block sup-' ports the upright post 70, set in it by the screw 7r. On the post it are set by screws k two horizontal arms it, one directly above the other. Each of the four ends of these two arms carries a milled tension-screw in. From attachments in these screws are led the coiled tension-springs is, which after spirally incasing part of the arm spring over the aperture 9 and form the takeups 74, allfour being parallel and terminating in the vertically-elongated eyes 7r one of which is approximately over the swinging extremity of each of the A horizontal stop-wire i made fast at one end to one of the screws 2'. bridges over the top of the thread-groove g and prevents the take-ups it" from descending too far.

It will now be convenient to trace the course of the thread from the bobbin to the eye of the thread-changer, which when depressed places its thread in the thread-carrier 9 by 'which it is fed into the needles.

From the bobbin 702 each thread passes through threadapertures it 7& [2 through its eve /L in wire ll to its appropriate aperture i of the yoke i From this latter aperture each of the threads passes under the stop-wire f and thence down through the thread-aperture of one of the thread-locks, thence through one of the take-up eyes 2: and down through the eye of its appropriate thread-changer '5.

By tracing the course of the thread in Fig. 11, which belongs to the thread-changer nearest the observer and which is in its upper or horizontal position, it will be seen that the.

take-up eye exercises its force to bind its thread against the stop-wire f by pulling the swinging end of the thread-lock up against the stop-wire.

due to the formers weighted end, leaving the thread free to run under the stop-wire 1' It will thus be seen that while the thread is freely fed from its bobbin to any one of the threadchangers, which by its depression has pulled down its take-up, the thread is locked, when the thread-changer with its take-up flies up, in which position the take-up is forced to exert its whole tension on the end of the thread. The result of the combined action of these parts is therefore that the depression of any one of the thread-changers 7; places its thread in the thread-carrier g whence it is fed to the needles, while its elevation Withdraws its thread from the action of the needles. It is therefore proper to next describe the mechanism by which these thread-changers are successively depressed and raised, whereby the threads are successively thrown into and out of action.

(Z. Leoers which control the thread- 0]L(WLQ'678.Tl16 upright post L, which is set in plate G in proximity to the aperture g, has pivoted upon it four horizontal cam-actuated levers Z, one above the other. Each of these levers has three armsa long arm Z, a

cam-arm Z and a short arm Z An upright post Z, set in plate G, serves as a stop for all the levers in one direction. Their motion in the opposite direction is opposed by springs Z one for each lever. These levers are of similar shape, except the short arms Z which decrease in length from the topmost lever to the bottommost one, so that their extremities correspond successively in position to the pivoted ends of the four thread-changers 71, each thread-changer thus having the extremity of one of the arms i playing directly over its pivot. 1n the extremity of each of these arms Z is set a depending post ll, terminating in a shoe F. The length of the post is in each case such that its shoe reaches to the top of the The depression, however, of. one of the thread-changers pulls its thread,

square end of the thread-changer to which it corresponds. V The position of the levers Z is such that their motion within the limits about to be described causes the arm Z of each one, with its shoe, to slide over the top of its threadchanger from one side of the pivot Z to the other, so that when the arm Z is in its outermost position its thread-changer is raised by the pressure of the shoe Z against the end of the thread-changer beyond the pivot, while when the lever Z is in its innermost position its thread-changer is depressed by the pressure of its shoe Z against the top of the post '5 with the bevel of which it has come into contact. Thus the moving of any one of the levers Z positively raises or depresses its corresponding thread-changer. As plate Gr rotates movement of the levers Z is caused by contact of their cam-arm Z with a verticallymovable cam-plate M, Fig. 1, with cam edge M. According as this cam is raised or depressed by mechanism to be described, the levers Z, as these are rotated successively, come into contact with cam edge M and depress their thread-changers, throwing the corresponding thread into the thread-carrier g It is, however, necessary that the movements of these thread-changers shall not be independent of each other, but that they shall be so connected that the depression of any one of the thread-changers necessarily brings about the raising of any other one which has been previously depressed. This is effected as follows: A trigger-plate N, Figs. 8 and 9, is pivoted to plate G on the upright post a. This trigger-plate moves between stop at in one direction and spring n in the other direction. lts tripping extremity is blunt at the end and furnished with a beveled surface at the side. Its position is so related to that ofthe levers Z that when any one of them is moved so as to depress its thread-changer its long arm Z presses against the beveled surface of the trigger, pushing it against the spring n until it is clear of the trigger, in which position the blunt end of the trigger holds the lever in opposition to spring Z fixed in position to depress its thread-changer, from which position it cannot be released until the trigger is again moved. When by reason of cam-plate M assuming a different vertical position another one of the levers Z is moved so as to depress its thread -changer, the motion of its long arm Z in passing the trigger forces it out until the long arm of the lever which was last actuated is released and returned by spring Z to the position in which its thread-changer is raised. Thus the same motion of any one of the arms Z which sets the lever in position to depress its thread changer necessarily releases any lever which has previously been so set.

1 By the operation of the parts which have thus far been described the proper change in vertical position of cam-plate M throws any desired thread into thread-guide g, simulta neonsly removing any other thread which it has previously contained.

.lt will now be convenient to describe the circular thread-end-guide plate and the threadcutting mechanism, whereby the loose end of each thread thrown into and out of action is at the proper point cut and held ready for further use.

IV. The T/WeaOZ-EMZ- Guide PZate and Thread- Cutting lVfeo/zanism.

The central aperture of rotating plate G is bridged transversely on the side farthest from the aperture 9 by a plate 0. A post 0 and a block 0 depend from this plate into aperture g and support centrally within it, and

therefore in fixed relation to its depending flange g the horizontal circular thread-endguide plate 0, which is figured separately in Fig. 14. This consists mainly of an annulus immediately within the circle of the heads of the needles. A part of the annulus being functionless, it is cut away, as seen in Fig. 14, to give the operator freer access to the needles. This annulus is formed with an inwardly-projecting tongue 0, the point 0 of which turns upward, while its base forms a central platform for guide-plate 0. Behind the base of this tongue on one side the aperture of the annulus is projected in the form of a curved slot 0 The rear edge of this tongue is formed with a reentrantangle the sides of which are overhung by a little 'L- shaped plate 0 fastened to the top of tongue 0 by screws passing through slots in it, by means of which the Width of the base of the tongue may be very accurately varied and adjusted.

A small plate 0, which is fast to the upper surface of the plate 0 near the base of the tongue, affords a support from which three wire arms 0 fastened to plate 0 by screws, project transversely across the base of the tongue 0. The wire arm nearest the center, which is a thread-guide, is longer than the others and has its end turned up, giving it the position and curvature seen in Fig. 10. The other two shorter arms press against the surface of the tongue, forming spring threadclips. Between these wire arms parallel grooves 0 are cut across the upper surface of the base of the tongue 0. A block 0 which is set on top of the plate 0 near the middle of its inner edge, affords support for the horizontal pivot 0 of the oscillating fork 0 The oscillation of this fork is limited in one direc- -tion by the stop 0 and in the other direction guide-plate 0. projects above its pivot in the form of a camarm 0, which is engaged by the horizontal post 0 projecting from a vertical disk 0. By the partial rotation of disk 0 this post acting on cam-lever 0 pushes the tine end of the fork against the tension of spring 0 its tines running in the'grooves which have been spoken of to the other extremity of its play.

Block 0. which has been referred to as one of the supports for plate 0, is pierced vertically by an aperture within which slides the hammer O The lower end of this hammer takes the form of a blunt knife-edge 0, fall-- ing upon the upper surface of the thread-endguide plate 0, which acts as its anvil.- The exact position of its abutment against this surface is indicated in Fig. 14 in the dotted lines 0". Around this point the lower end of block 0 is cut away. (See Fig. 10.) Immediately behind this position is a short stoppin 0, which projects a little way above the top of the plate. projecting above plate 0, is turned over, forming a horizontal finger 0 (see Fig. 18,) which is engaged by a second horizontal post 0 projecting from the disk 0 The hammer is lifted by this post 0 when the disk is partially rotated, but otherwise is forced down upon plate 0 by means of the spring 0 one extremity of which engages the hammer near its top, while the other extremity is secured to thetop of the plate 0. The vertical disk 0, by the partial rotation of which both the fork and the hammer are operated, is mounted on the end of a radial rock-shaft P, the inner end of which is journaled within block K, mounted on plate (1?. Near its outer extremity this rock-shaft is also journaled in block P, made fast to the plate G near its periphery. Nithin the latter journal the rock-shaft has cut in it two circular grooves 19 p. A vertical pin p slides in the top of block P, being forced down by a coiled spring 11 surrounding the pin. The lower rounded end of this pin engages oneor the other of the circular grooves p p of rock-shaft P and permits the rock-shaft to slide lengthwise from its outer to its inner position against the pressure of spring p The outer end of rockshaft P, projecting slightly beyond plate G over the periphery of table E, carries a tappet P the lower part of which is formed with acam-groove p and a cam-surface p Around the periphery of table E are two fixed cams, one of which, E, has an upwardly-projecting cam-incline, (seen in enlarged detail in Fig. 15.) while the. other, E is furnished with bent cam-wings E the outer surfaces of which act as caminclines. The rock-shaft P is normally in its outer position, as seen in Fig. 8, pin 1 being in engagement with groove 1). In this position when plate G is rotated tappet P is clear from contact with either of the cams which have just been referred to. The

The other end of this fork The top of the hammer 0 or waste ends of the threads.

shifting of the rock-shaft P from its outer position to its inner position is effected as follows: Post 0 projecting from disk 0 has its extremity turned over to form a finger n Trigger-plate N projects beyond its pivot in the direction opposite to its tripping end in the form of a bent arm a the extremity of which engages the finger 12 which is normally in horizontal position ready for this engagement, as seen in Fig. 18, beingheld in this position by the combined action of springs 0 and 0 the motion of one of the levers Z in effecting a change of thread, arm it engages finger n draws the rock-shaft P from its outer to its inner position, arm a immediately returningto its former position. When rock-shaft P isin its inner position, the cam-groove and camsurface of the tappet P are both in position toengage, when plate G is rotated. the cam-inclines of the fixed cams E E The direction of rotation of plate G is opposed to the hands of a watch, as indicated by the arrows, Figs. 1 and 8. This rotation brings cam-groove 12* of tappet P in contact first with cam E.

As the block rides up the incline of this cam, as seen in Fig. 15, it oscillates rock-shaft P, with its terminal disk'o something over an eighth of a revolution, eflecting, through the mechanism which has been described, the oscillation of fork 0 and the raising of hammer O When the summit of the cam-incline of cam E has been reached, the cam-groove p is suddenly freed from cam E and rock-shaft P returns to its former position under the pressure of the two springs which have been referred to, allowing sudden depression of the hammer O and at the same time returning fork 0 to its position clear of the thread and guide-plate 0. Having thus accomplished the function for which it was drawn to its inner position, the rock-shaft is immediately returned to its outer position by wing E of the cam E engaging with the inner cam-surface p of tappet P in which position it remains at rest until again drawn in at the next change of thread. It should be noticed that posts 0 and 0 are of sufficient length to maintain constant engagement, the former with finger 0 on top of the hammer and the latter with cam lever 0 of the fork, irrespective of whether rock-shaft P is in its inner or outer position, these engagements never being released by either sliding or partial rotation of the rock-shaft. 1 will now proceed to describe the action of this thread-end-guide plate and its cutting mechanism in relation to the free This is threefold: First, it constantly holds the ends of all of the inactive threads under its thread-clips in proper position for the depression of one of the thread-changers to force its thread into threadcarrier g and consequently throw it into the needles; secondly, when this has been done it severs the unused end of this thread Whenever trigger N is tripped by. 

